How do Electronic Information Resources Integrate into Engaged Learning Experiences?

three young women engaged with computer learning.

What is engaged learning?

In an engaged learning environment, learners are involved in the planning and goal setting of particular assignments. They help establish the level of challenge, write the reflective self-assessment, participate in inquiry-based activities, and recognize the real-world applications.  Often they work in teams and construct as much of their own learning as possible.

Think about how you use the Internet. Do you follow a predetermined path to previously proven facts and theories?  Or do you blaze your own path, relating what you know to what you want to know, until you are sure of the answer?  The later is an engaging way to use prerequisite knowledge and information literacy techniques to construct your own new knowledge.

Why bother mixing the Internet with lessons that already work?

“I think we can get Internet information literacy to become an integral part of engaged learning. Most teachers expect their students to use the Internet when doing research.  We just need to find a way to incorporate the information literacy skills.  And I think one of the best ways to do this, is when they come to me with a project, find a non-threatening way to ask, `And how does this relate to their world now?'  Because I think that is one of the basic concepts of engaged learning.  Getting it to relate to their world now.  Then you’ve got some application…”  (Varsha Kulkarni, Fri Dec 20 2002 12:50 pm, Information Fluency Course, Library Media Specialist, Warren Township High School, Gurnee, IL)  The advantage of the Internet is that it can keep pace with time better than traditional published works.

Many people, including students, are under the impression that they already know how to use the Internet.  These micro-modules have been designed not only to teach information literacy skills, but also to show people what they don’t know and how much there is to learn.  No one likes to be hold that "they are doing it all wrong" but any one can benefit from a well-timed, positive-sounding search "tip" or hint. Mixing a little information literacy in with a favorite lesson will ease the pain of learning something new and make life-long learning possible for millions of people.


Authored by Lora K. Kaisler 2003